To avoid any misunderstanding, Clarksdale-Coahoma Airport Board chairman David Huggins explained to the members of the board that the anti-collision system for its private plane will be paid through the private plane account and will not involve any government (city or county) funds.
He made the clarification at the start of the regular monthly board meeting held Monday night, Jan. 14.
“Nobody mentioned it, but I just wanted to make it clear that no government money will be used to purchase the system,” Huggins said.
The Federal Aviation Administration has decreed that all planes have the system installed by Jan. 1, 2020. At the moment, the local board has only $13,261.29 in the private plane account, but Huggins is confident the board will have sufficient funding in place by the time the purchase is made in the spring.
In other news, the board:
* Accepted Ellington Massey’s bid of $3,300 per year for the lease of 39.6 acres of airport land on a three-year lease payable each year. Also, the board accepted a bid by Floyd Foster, doing business as Sunday Farms, of $560 payable each year on a three-year lease of 13.8 acres of airport land.
* Discussed some billing questions regarding Air-Worthy. The company, owned by Joe Worthy, paid the Board $11,400, but questions about the bills have arisen regarding who was due the money. Huggins said he will investigate the issue.
* Voted to accept the treasurer’s report as presented pending the results of the Air-Worthy investigation. The board has $71,896.90 in its main account, in addition to the $13,261.29 in the rental plane account.
